A joyous trail running trip in the Swiss Alps, organized by Run the Alps and led by Mirna Valerio, which was inclusive of slower-paced runners. The stunning scenery, camaraderie, and supportive guides made the adventure unforgettable. Key highlights included picturesque landscapes, flexible itineraries, and savoring alpine treats.
Facing self-doubt and the physical toll of aging, Michele prepares for a demanding hike into the Grand Canyon, having previously completed it 30 years ago with much difficulty. After setbacks including an injury, motivation from friends and realization of her consistent activity help reframe her mindset. Despite enduring mental and physical challenges during the trek, upon reaching the bottom, she releases her self-doubt into the Colorado River. Emerging with renewed confidence in her body and abilities, she reflects on the empowering journey with her fellow hikers, overcoming her past limitations and looking forward to future adventures.
Glenn and I recently enacted a “two week cooling off period” after we finish adventures. It turns out that when we are riding high from our latest amazing experience, we can make somewhat questionable decisions about our next adventure. Case in point, before we had even gotten on our plane departing a recent visit to […]
It’s important to lean into experiencing those things that simultaneously scare the crap out of you…and ignite your curiosity. My recent experience in the Azores was just that!
I was a bit lost after I quit my job in terms of figuring out how to still be a productive member of society. I knew I was passionate about traveling, especially to see the natural wonders of the world, and I wanted to continue working on advancing racial and social justice issues. Sometimes the […]
Life requires ongoing renegotiations with our mind, body and spirit. Of late, I’ve been on the losing end of that dynamic. I’ve arrived at a crossroads in my journey toward living a life more extraordinary.
The first time I laid eyes on Argentina, I knew it was a place I had to visit. We had taken a tour boat across the beautiful Chilean lake Todos los Santos (2015). From the boat I could see enticing glacier covered mountain tops in the distance and I learned that if we continued our […]
Tips and observations on traveling internationally during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2017 I saw my first total solar eclipse. I had gone mostly because it was “something to do” and would include a camping trip in Central Oregon, which I’m always up for. I was prepared to be unimpressed (read more about my experience here). To my surprise, witnessing the sun completely blink out in […]
While we weren’t traveling in the company of twelve dwarves, and we didn’t have to slay a dragon to steal its treasure, we did find ourselves on an epic adventure driving across the entirety of Canada…and back again. 49 days — 11,050 miles (17,783 kilometers) — 5 ferries — 6 time zones — 2 sore […]
Nestled far up a misty river inlet, with bald eagles standing as sentinels along its banks, live the Khutzeymateen grizzly bears. I was lucky enough to visit these amazing creatures recently as I was turning 50 years of age. I’ve never been one for celebrating birthdays, so up until that point I had only planned […]
Glenn and I recently made a run for the Canadian border. We were still reeling from having to cancel yet another overseas trip due to COVID and were looking for an adventure to sooth our wanderlust. Canada had recently opened their land borders to vaccinated Americans and were no longer requiring a 14-day quarantine upon […]
“Because I am an entitled, self-centered American.” That was the only legitimate response I could imagine giving the immigration officer when they asked me why I traveled to a country the U.S. State Department said I shouldn’t travel to because of the ongoing surge of the Delta variant. Two years ago, Glenn and I decided […]
Glenn and I recently became the proud owners of a campervan. Her name is Laverne, after the character “Laverne DeFazio” from Happy Days and later the Laverne & Shirley show…as well as Mork & Mindy for the trivia buffs out there. She’s adorned with a monogrammed “L” on her front lapel (which is a fascinating […]
I’ll admit it. I live a charmed life. Or, as a good friend of mine once lovingly told me, I live a life where “rainbows and unicorns tend to shoot out of my ass.” I once did a past-life regression for fun (don’t knock it till you try it!) and asked my higher-self why things […]
